The craftspeople should be aware of the fact that nowadays shoppers look for quality handicraft products along with exceptional and innovative design.

She was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of 'Indigenous Handicrafts Exhibition' at Manik Mia Avenue in the city.

Inaugurating the month-long exhibition, the adviser urged the designers to be aware of colour and texture to preserve the glorious tradition of handloom industry.

Bangladesh Handloom Board organised the exhibition to mark the Independence and National Day, with the financial support of participating craftspeople.

In his welcome speech, Bangladesh Handloom Board Chairman Abdul Hakim Mandal said we organised the exhibition to pay tribute to the memory of the martyrs of our liberation war.

The chairman said around 36 per cent domestic demand of clothes are met by the industry and around Tk 1 thousand crore value addition is accounted in the national economy every year.

The handloom industry involving the livelihood of around 15 lakh people is burdened with problems including lack of capital, improved technology and skilled workforce leading the ruination of the industry, he lamented.

Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh National Handloom Samity President Md Hanif demanded implementation of the 'Benarashi Palli Project' in Mirpur soon to save the 'Benarashi' industry from extinction as the designers are gradually leaving this profession out of depression.

He also asked for developing website on handloom industry for the worldwide exposure.

Presided over by Secretary of Textiles and Jute Ministry Abdur Rashid Sarker, the function was also addressed by Secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry Dr Abul Kashem Mahbubul Alam as special guest.

A total of 140 stalls of handloom clothes, jute and leather products and handicrafts featuring Benarasi Katan of Mirpur, Jamdani saree of Sonargaon, Lungi of Ruhitpur, indigenous clothes of Rangamati, Rajshahi Silk and shawl of Kumarkhali are available on the exhibition.

The exhibition will remain open from 9:00am to 7:00pm everyday for the whole month of April.